Lamp Shade with Corrugated Interior for Compact Folding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lamp shades with cylindrical configurations face challenges in storage and transport due to their bulky nature, as they cannot be easily assembled or disassembled, and require laborious manufacturing processes for space-saving solutions, which often result in instability and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A lamp shade with a hollow, laminar structure featuring a corrugated interior surface and perimeter channels that allows for easy assembly and disassembly, enabling horizontal folding and reduced storage space, using an exterior and interior face formed from different layers joined by an intermediate adhesive layer, with corrugated surfaces and channels facilitating secure coupling with the support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the lamp shade is made with a rigid cylindrical structure to maintain aesthetic appeal and functionality, then the structural stability is improved, but the storage and transport space required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The lamp shade is divided into multiple horizontal segments or layers that can be collapsed relative to each other. This segmentation allows the rigid cylindrical structure to be compressed into a compact form for storage and transport, while maintaining its rigid stable structure during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp shade segments are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, similar to nested dolls. The horizontal layers can be folded or telescoped into a compact configuration that occupies minimal space, while expanding to form the complete rigid cylindrical structure when assembled.
2Volume of moving object
If the lamp shade is designed to be disassembled for space-saving storage, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated components. The connection mechanisms between segments combine structural support, alignment guidance, and locking functions into single elements, reducing the number of separate parts and simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp shade incorporates self-aligning and self-locking features that automatically guide segments into correct positions during assembly and secure them without requiring complex tools or procedures. The design enables easy assembly and disassembly through intuitive mechanisms that reduce labor requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If articulated rods are used to enable folding for transport, then the storage space is reduced, but the manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex articulated rod mechanisms, the lamp shade employs flexible horizontal segments or thin-walled structures that can bend and fold. This approach achieves the folding capability for compact transport using simpler, more cost-effective materials and construction methods compared to mechanical articulation systems.
4Reliability
If hooking means are inserted between layers to secure the shade to the support structure, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the manufacturing time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements are pre-formed or pre-positioned during the manufacturing process. Integration channels or attachment features are built into the lamp shade structure during fabrication, eliminating the need for time-consuming field assembly of separate hooking components and reducing manufacturing time while maintaining secure attachment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables efficient storage and transport of lamp shades in smaller spaces, simplifies assembly and disassembly, ensures stability, and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an exterior and interior face formed from different layers joined by an intermediate adhesive layer
Data Source
AI summary
The lamp shade is formed by a hollow enveloping body with laminar structure closed on itself. In an operative position it is assembled on a support structure and extends laterally around a light source, configuring an upper opening and a lower opening. The enveloping body comprises an exterior face and an interior face relatively rigid in the vertical direction and relatively flexible in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction being that which goes from the upper opening to the lower opening. The interior face comprises at least one corrugated surface portion vertically and at least one perimeter channel (6) perpendicular to the corrugations of the at least one portion for coupling the shade to the support structure.